Google TV Hype Heats Up

It's been about five months since Google TV was announced at Google I/O, and the company has been quiet since then. However, on Monday the hype machine spun up with more details, which pretty much points to a launch nearing (though we already were anticipating a fall launch).

First, Google finally created a Google TV website which as you might expect, is at http://www.google.com/tv/. Also, in a blog post, Google TV product manager and developer Ambarish Kenghe announced a number of content partners, and the steps the partners have taken to optimize their content, and the Android apps they have created for Google TV.

HBO has ensured that HBO GO, which allows eligible subscribers to view HBO content in their browser, will work with Google TV;

NBC Universal, which has created CNBC Real-Time, an application that allows you to track your favorite stocks and access news feeds while at the same time viewing CNBC content;

The NBA has built an app called NBA Game Time, which allows you to follow scores in real-time as well as see the latest highlights;

Let's not forget Netflix and Amazon Video on Demand, which were mentioned during Google TV’s at Google I/O in May.

Although NBC Universal was listed with the CNBC app, notably absent was any mention of the major broadcast networks (ABC, CBS, Fox, NBC).

Additionally, Google emphasized it had worked with major websites such as news site like The New York Times and USA Today; music sites like VEVO, Pandora and Napster; information networks like Twitter; and online networks like blip.tv, to ensure they work well with Google TV.

Also, you can expect some of your favorite Android apps to be available on launch, although other third party developers will have to wait until next year before they can deploy their own Android Apps to Google TV. Expect to be able to Tweet from Google TV, listen to Pandora, and more.

Meanwhile, third-party hardware is showing up very soon. Logitech will be unveiling its Revue set-top box on Wednesday, while Sony is holding an Oct. 12th event to display what are anticipated to be Google TV-enabled Sony Bravia televisions.